I saw the posts of some posters regarding
the fluctuations of weather in San Francisco
in July. I assume there is not much
change early August, right?
I was planning either a trip to San Francisco
on Aug 9th or to Seattle. But since I'm from
Florida, I thought seattle would be too cold
for us. Now, I'm rethinking of SF. Would you
say that the weather drops below 65F in San
Francisco in August from about 9 am to 5 pm?

Just don't want to be wearing winter coats
on my vacation!

Thanks a bunch.

National Weather Service Records indicate that the average maximum for the seven days from August 9 to August 16 is 72F in San Francisco and 76F in Seattle. For the same days the average minimum is 55F in San Francisco and 56F in Seattle. You might want to try Oakland.

Don't opt for Oakland for your vacation. It might be a little warmer, but would offer nothing in terms of enjoyment for a week. I think that you'll find the weather in Seattle to be quite nice in August. And you'll love the city! So much to see and do in that area. Be sure to spend a few days in the San Juan Islands.

Either city can have weather extremes any month. Seattle is normally sunny and in the 70's in August. San Francisco is likely to be foggy each morning and 60's in the afternoon. Both cities are beautiful. If your interests are of a cosmopolitan nature, SF is probably best. If you like mountains and water, Seattle is best.

Boy, those replies came quick!
So, considering say from these
3 cities: Portland, Seattle
and San Francisco, would you
say that Seattle is the most likely
to be warmer of the three in
early august?

Of course, I'd be making a side
trip to see Mt. Rainier or Columbia Gorge, which I
assume will be very cold.

I guess either way it'll be colder
for a Floridian, but I'm looking
to escape to some good scenery and
the constant summer rains here.

San Francisco has good weather, I wish we had that kind of air in Houston.

San Francisco is a superior city when compared to Seattle. It has far better restaurants and better cultural and ethnic diversity and to be blunt-its more awake and vibrant. You feel like your in a happening place. Seattle is great but its slower paced and sleeps earlier.

Plus you have the wine country, the ocean and monterey all within commuting distance of Downtown San Francisco.

I like San Francisco, but don't always find it all that relaxing. While there are many scenic places to choose from, all of them come with the hassle of traffic. And Napa will actually be quite hot in August.

I personally love Portland and Seattle for nice cities with great scenic choices. Both of these cities offer nice weather in August and would be great choices for your vacation.

If warm weather is your aim, Pati, then Portland gets the nod. SF has reliable (many people think refreshing) afternoon fog, Seattle will generally be warmer until later in the day, but some cloudy days are also a possibility. Portland is farther from the ocean than either, hence is less subject to marine air, and the warm wind blowing down the Columbia Gorge often results in temperatures in the 90s or higher, very unusual temperatures in SF or Seattle.

I won't rise to Brian's bait about the merits of SF vs. Seattle. Suffice to say we moved to Seattle from SF many years ago, we go back there a lot, and I'd do it again today, even quicker.

Pati:

Let me add my two cents to say that Portland is warmer in the summer than Seattle. No water views except the river, but a very nice city to visit and walk. Your trip to the Columbia Gorge will be much closer (you have to practically drive to downtown Portland to start off to the Gorge anyway), and you could visit Mount Hood rather than Mount Rainier, elevation not as high but a beautiful mountain. You may even be able to squeeze in a trip to Mount St. Helens, also closer to Portland than Seattle. You didn't say how long you will be visiting. The Oregon beaches are much nicer and spectacular than the Washington beaches (exception very north part of the Olympic Peninsula).

Don't know why so many people are trying to divert you from your question about weather with talk of mountains, water, view, restaurants, and urban vitality. Of the three cities you are choosing, weather records clearly show that Portland is, on average,significantly warmer than Seattle or San Francisco. Suggest you consult one of the weather record sites rather than this board.